Flowers at Queen Sirikit Park near Chatuchak Market

Though the park area is connected to Suan Rod Fai, I have never been there before. Full of flowers and no bicycles to distract us.

A dinner at Sorrento is held to congratulate Khun Sivaporn for being appointed as one of the advisory council on economics for Democratic Reform under constitutional Monarchy (CDRM).

A day trip to “Jet Kot” Waterfall

A trip to Khao Phra Wiharn has finally turned into “Jet Kot” waterfall at Kang Khoi, Saraburi.

15 of us are gathered on Sunday morning to visit this small waterfall not far from Bangkok, about 130-150 kilometer. The place is under the responsibility of the Park Protector Unit Kh.Y.18 (หน่วยพิทักษ์์อุทยานเขาใหญ่ 18).

p.s. Thanks Pe Fa for the lovely pictures ka

เห็ดถ้วยขน

After the first trail and a simple lunch, we then drive to another “Jet Kot”, this time we have to walk across the small stream. And like the first trail, I, among the slowest of the group, meet the rest of the gang on their way back before we even reach the fall. And after walking further for a while, we decide to return to see the pictures taken by those who make it instead.

เห็ดแชมเปญ



Jet Kot Nua (น้ำตกเจ็ดคตเหนือ)

First we visit the “Jet Kot Nua” (เจ็ดคตเหนือ) which is about 1,200 meter walking, though it takes some of us (me included, of course) more than an hour to reach the waterfall, 5 steps then stop, and then another 5 and stop to take photograph of mushroom. Jet Kot is famous for the Champagne mushroom.

I am in the last group to reach the fall, not that I get a good picture along the way. It is so hard taking a macro picture, especially with those little hungry mosquitoes all around when you need to stay still.

View of Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel from "Flow" terrace



Lunch with my mom at Flow, Millenium Hilton Hotel.

Suan Rod Fai during the most peaceful military coup in Thai history

As the most classic coup de grace happened last night, bank is closed for today. Another special holiday for me, so I spend time sleeping all through morning (miss the Suan Rod Fai walking and the “Dim Sum” lunch with the gang). Inspired by them, I go out and visit Suan Rod Fai in the evening for an hour. The park is still full of people biking, jogging, and picnicking.

A day to fill up the stomach that could last for the whole week!

At noon I host a belated Birthday lunch for my brother at Akune, a Japanese restaurant at Thonglor 13, then I went to join the gang at Don-Don, another Japanese restaurant at Sukhumvit 39 in order to move on to Suan Rod Fai as planned. Since they are still enjoy the delicious food there, no point to just sit there without sample some. Then, somehow I don't know what happens (with me trying to locate the place), but we all move on to the bakery, Coffee Bean by Dao at Ekamai 10. We order many pieces that a waitress has to confirm whether the orders are for "take home" or not. End up 5.30 hours non-stop eating time!!!

A short trip to Petchaboon Province

Contributed the room certificate at The Imperial Phukaew Hill Resort by my brother, a trip to Petchaboon is planned and rescheduled so many times. Finally only 4 of us are available to visit it this weekend, instead of next week as firstly planned.

346 kilometres from Bangkok, Petchaboon borders on three regions, the North, the Central and the Northeast. Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous and forested areas. The central part of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors.

(More information are available at www.tourismthailand.org website)

“Because of the fertility of the land, Petchaboon has always been an agriculturally productive area.” And this statement is proved true by the fully load of our car trunk: pumpkin, chayote, carrot, bean, star apple, etc.

We stop to have lunch near Ampur Muang at “Khanom Chin Khun Ta” recommended by a guide book. It turns out that the food is far from “delicious” and if someone with this limited cooking ability can open a restaurant, then I, who survive the living by having instant noodles and can foods, can do it too. :-)

And I would have to say that though I enjoy my friends' company and the scenery, the food of this trip is such a failure!

View from the breakfast room at the Imperial Phukaew Hill Resort.



View from the bedroom balcony.

Si Dit Waterfall
Since it is in the rainy season, the water is so “cocoa” color.

พระบรมธาตุเจดีย์กาญจนาภิเษก, วัดวิชมัยปุญญาราม

A Chedi containing Holy Relic

War Memorial in the mist

Khao Kho is made up of mountain ranges to northwest of town about 1,174 metres above mean sea level covered in the main by deciduous plants. It once was the base room which communist insurgents conducted their struggles against the authorities during 1968-1982. The route winds through considerably steep terrain.



In the picture: Aor, Pat, Pum and Van (Thanks for being a driver for every trip that she can join us)

Rattanakosin Tour

Pe Fa has arranged the “Rattanakosin Island” tour aiming to visit temples and to have delicious food along the way, actually the Thai name of this trip is “พุงป่อง น่องตึง”. The trip starts in the morning around 7.30 (and of course I couldn’t be there that early). Visiting 6 temples: Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Po, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Ratchapradit, Wat Suthat, and Wat Sraket. Stopping to fill up our energy two times. All in all is about 13 of us who can join the trip. It is a great trip and all of the temples are beautifully decorated. I haven’t visited them in such a long time and hopefully that this is the first of the series.

p.s. Many thanks to Pe Fa for being a Tour Leader and for the beautiful pictures and also to the Tourism Authority of Thailand website for the temple information.

Wat Sraket
Wat Sraket's major feature is the Golden Mount, dating from 1800, an artificial hill topped by a gilded pagoda 260 feet in height from its base. Initiated by King Rama III and completed in the reign of King Rama IV.
http://www.azuretours.com/bangkok_attraction_01.htm



Wat Suthat
The building of the temple was commissioned by King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok, in 1807. Its location in the center of Rattanakosin Island. This was in keeping with the Buddhist belief that it is like Mount Phra Sumeru being the center of the universe. Phra Sri Sakayamunee, the principal Buddha image, was moved from Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai to be placed in Phra Wihan Luang in Wat Suthat in 1808.

Within the temple grounds the most important building is the Phra Wihan Luang which is the Royal Temple. Surrounding the Royal Temple is Phra Wihan Khot terrace which is really impressive with 156 Buddha statues, mostly in the seated meditative attitude called Smathi.

The chapel, Phra Ubosot at Wat Suthat is possibly the most beautiful in Thailand and is also the largest measuring 72.25 metres in length and 22.60 metres in width.



Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram
The temple is relatively small and covers a total area of approximately 2 rai. It was built in the reign of King Rama IV who intended it to be a temple in the Dhammayutika Sect as well as to be one of the 3 major temples as required by an old tradition to be situated within the capital. The place was originally a royal coffee plantation in the reign of King Rama III. With his personal donation, King Rama IV bought the plantation and had a small temple constructed there, naming it Wat Ratchapradit Sathitthammayutikaram. Later, he had the name changed to Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram.

Wat Ratchabophit
Built by King Rama V in 1869, it was in keeping with tradition that each monarch constructed a temple to mark his reign. The temple is a mixture of local and western styles, showing an awakening interest in new ideas and a desire to experiment with them.



Wat Phrachetuphon Vimon Mangkararam Ratchaworamahawihan

Wat pho was built in the reign of King Rama III and is admired for its architecture which is called yoo"mum- maay^ sib' sOOng+. Every structure in this temple was built in square form with 12 angles There is also a big statue of the reclining Budha image inside the temple.

The temple official name is Wat Phrachetuphon Vimon Mangkararam Ratchaworamahawihan, although it is commonly called Wat Po.
Founded during the 16th century, Wat Pho is most famous for the golden reclining Buddha that measues 46 metres and has feet inlaid with mother-of pearl. In more modern times, Wat Pho has gained international recognition as a meditation centre and for the traditional Thai massage that is both practiced and taught here.
Traditionally, temples were the schools as there was no formal education system, with monks providing basic lesson in both spiritual and secular subjects. King Rama III turned Wat Po into a major centre for learning in botany, geography and history.



Wat Phrasrirattana Sasadaram

Wat Phrasrirattana Sasadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo), or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, situated within the Grand Palace, near Sanam Luang, is a sacred symbol of the Rattanakosin, or Bangkok, Dyansty and the most important temple in realm. It was built by King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, at the same time as the Grand Palace in 1782, when he established Bangkok as his capital, in order to serve as the palace chapel, in which traditional royal ceremonies would be conducted. It thus has a sanctuary for the performance of Buddhist rites, but no residences for monks.

The Buddha is made of green jade, suprisingly not of emerald, clothed in gold is approximately 45 cm tall. The Buddha is kept in the Chapel.

http://members.thai.net/watphrakaew/eng/index.htm

Samples of the delicious dishes.



In the picture: Pe Vor, Aor, Pe Nong, Ood, Khun Rochana, and Chua. And I think that we call for "ladies" picture; how come Chua is in the picture also is beyond my understanding. :-)

Visiting "Harvey", a Californian restaurant in Sukhumvit Thonglor 9. The restaurant is owned by Khun Big, P. Nid's son. (K. Nid - Chirapa is an Ex-TISCO Management)